This brings an end to the ODI series. What a dominating performance from the Aussies, they always find a way out of trouble. Sri Lanka have a few questions to sort out in the 50-over format. The thing is since the Tests allow their spinners to take full advantage of the track, it is easier to dominate. But in ODIs, the pitch plays better and also the margin for error is far less. They are a team under transition and it will be interesting to see how they go from here. Australia's Sri Lankan sojourn is not over yet. They will play two T20Is before heading home. Do not forget to join us for all the action. Until then take care and have fun. This is Abhishek Chaudhary signing off on behalf of Srivathsa and Raju Peethala. Good night!

Warner collects the trophy and his teammates gather around him for a photograph

Leading wicket taker of the series - Mitchell Starc: 5 games, 12 wickets with an average of 18.17

Bailey: "Yeah, it has been a challenging series. We had to adapt to conditions. At different stages, the bowlers and batsmen found it very tough. To come out on top 4-1 has been very satisfying. Just watching the Test series, we had to come up with different plans for the ODI series. The wickets that had been produced were pretty challenging so we tried to hit our shots down the ground. Sweeps too came off nicely. I think, if you speak to the guys, it has been challenging. The hardest thing has been to get partnerships. A guy like David Warner tonight, once he took his time, but once he did, he was really good."

Leading run-getter, who's also the recipient of the Man of the series award - George Bailey: 270 runs from 5 games with an average of 67.05

Chandimal: "Yeah, we are really disappointed with the batting throughout the series. Especially today, we got the start, but could not get to 250-60. We did not click as a batting unit. We have experienced guys and have youngsters as well but they have to learn, if you get a good start, you have to bat longer. That makes things easy for others. This happens, one series you lose, one series you win. You have to learn from your mistakes and come back strong. Unfortunately, the skipper got injured, I am enjoying my captaincy."

Warner: "Yeah, it is always good to get to a milestone. The credit goes to the bowlers. It was not an ideal start with the ball, but the boys came back to restrict them to 195. It is always going to be challenging here. Throughout the tournament we have had some fifty-run partnerships. Well done to Bailey, he played brilliantly in the middle. It is always pleasing to win the series. Fortunately, we lost three tosses and came back to bowl really well. It's always tough to call. At the end of the day, you have to come out and bowl as good as you can. It helps if you restrict the teams to below 200."

David Warner fittingly receives the Man of the Match award - The first Aussie to notch up an ODI ton in Sri Lanka.

HOWSTAT: This is Sri Lanka's 11th ODI defeat out of 12 games to a Test playing nation in 2016.

The script unfolded exactly in the manner the tourists would have wanted it to. And before winding up, dare I forget the effort from Bailey, series' high scorer once again had answers to all the spin hurled at him. Although comparing Tests and ODIs is a farcical thing to do, this win would definitely act as an ointment for the Aussies who had to dance to spin-tunes during the Test series... Stay tuned for the presentations which will be followed by celebrations Aussie style...

But Australians play their cricket differently, sometimes so differently that you are left scratching your head. Why I say this? Here it is: Finch did not open owing to an injured finger. That doubled the pressure on captain Warner, who took 72 balls to get to his fifty - his next 50 runs came off 39 deliveries. And these were the 50 runs which blunted the Lankan efforts... Shoulders dropped, lengths became short as the ball turned old and the sharp turn vanished.

Hence proved: the desire to stamp the authority over a hapless unit trumps the effort to salvage pride. Australia were chasing a tricky total, the kind of total which keeps batters uncertain - whether to race or jog towards the finish line. And once confusion creeps in while chasing a score, it leads to blunders. Australia were uncertain, started slow and lost two quick wickets - two left-handers perishing to an off-spinner (Dilruwan Perera) with the new ball. At this point, with a few more lefties to come and the ball yet to get old, panic would have sneaked into most dressing rooms...

42.6

de Silva to Hastings, FOUR, all over! Australia win the series 4-1. Saw the flight on the leg stump delivery and heaved it behind square. Runs away to the fence. Hastings and Faulkner celebrate the series win as do their mates in the dressing room. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan fans are happy as well - they don't seem to mind the result. Their motto - come to the cricket and enjoy themselves. Such a refreshing bunch - the men from the small Island. Always happy irrespective of what happens

42.5

de Silva to Hastings, no run, generously tossed up on the stumps, Hastings gets forward to block

42.4

de Silva to Hastings, no run, shortish outside off, dabbed straight to the fielder at backward square

42.3

de Silva to Hastings, FOUR, miscued and beats long-on to his right. Saw the flight and went after it, got enough wood to elude the man running across. Scores level

42.2

de Silva to Hastings, no run, pitches around leg and turns in to hit the thigh pad of Hastings who was getting forward to block. Sliding down

42.1

de Silva to Faulkner, 1 run, quick single to backward square leg, Hastings is in safely

41.6

Aponso to Hastings, no run, on the stumps, Hastings gets forward to block

41.5

Aponso to Faulkner, 1 run, stays back to punch to long-on

41.4

Aponso to Faulkner, no run, dragged down outside off, Faulkner mistimes the pull, short mid-wicket dives to his left and cuts off the single

41.3

Aponso to Faulkner, no run, now finds short mid-wicket

41.2

Aponso to Faulkner, no run, quicker and Faulkner hurriedly jams it back to Aponso

41.1

Aponso to Faulkner, no run, tossed up outside off, Faulkner is forward to defend and gets a thick inside edge onto pad

Amila Aponso [5.0-0-32-0] is back into the attack

John Hastings, right handed bat, comes to the crease

40.6

de Silva to Warner, out Caught&Bowled!! He is so disappointed but he has to go. Wanted to remain unbeaten but has hit a half volley straight back to the bowler. Innocuous dismissal and he is cursing himself as he walks back. But he has done his job and a fine innings comes to an end. Warner c and b de Silva 106(126) [4s-9]

de Silva to Warner, THAT'S OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!

40.5

de Silva to Warner, no run, the quicker delivery on off, Warner defends to point and yells out "no" to Faulkner

40.4

de Silva to Faulkner, 1 run, very full on the stumps, wristed to long-on

de Silva to Warner, no run, looks for a dab and run single but finds backward point

40.1

de Silva to Warner, no run, tossed up outside off, pushed off the front foot to short cover

39.6

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, no run, gets forward to defend and the ball goes off a thick inside edge, straight to the fielder at short mid-wicket

39.5

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, no run, a forward defence. Faulkner is prepared to do it in singles

39.4

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, shows all his stumps and then chops it wide of cover

39.3

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, 1 run, very short outside off, punched to long-off

39.2

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, 2 runs, very short outside off, thumped wide of long-off for a brace

39.2

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, wide, sliding down leg

39.1

Sachith Pathirana to Faulkner, no run, tossed up outside off, defended back to Sachith Pathirana

38.6

de Silva to Warner, no run, watches it carefully and then defends off the back foot

38.5

de Silva to Faulkner, 1 run, on the pads, clipped wide of short mid-wicket

38.4

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, waits for the ball to pitch and then drills it to sweeper cover

38.3

de Silva to Warner, no run, pushed back to the right of de Silva

38.2

de Silva to Faulkner, 1 run, he is off the mark with a single to deep mid-wicket

James Faulkner, right handed bat, comes to the crease

38.1

de Silva to Head, out Caught by Lakmal!! Straight to long-on off a full toss. As simple as that. Came down the track and probably done in by the dip on the ball, finds the fielder to perfection. And they check for the no-ball - which is ridiculous must be said. Head thuds his bat onto his pad in disappointment as he walks back. Head c Lakmal b de Silva 13(20) [4s-1]

de Silva to Head, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

37.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, right back in the crease to defend that delivery which was bowled on the stumps

37.5

Sachith Pathirana to Head, 1 run, stays back and punches a single to long-on

37.4

Sachith Pathirana to Head, 2 runs, nudged past the diving leg-slip. Falls in front of the fielder and a couple by the time fine leg comes across

37.3

Sachith Pathirana to Head, no run, kept a bit low and Head toe-ends it back to Sachith Pathirana

37.2

Sachith Pathirana to Head, no run, quicker and the short-arm jab finds short mid-wicket

37.1

Sachith Pathirana to Head, no run, uses his feet and takes it on the full, doesn't beat mid-off though. Missed out

36.6

de Silva to Warner, no run, that has been pulled straight to the fielder at mid-wicket. Was there to be put away, but he found the fielder

36.5

de Silva to Head, 1 run, slides on straight outside off, Head gets a thick outside edge on the back foot defence, all along the ground and a single behind point

36.4

de Silva to Head, no run, is deceived by the dipping low full toss, in the end has to lunge out to meet it, does so and pushes it back to de Silva

36.3

de Silva to Head, FOUR, comes down the track and then slams it over Warner. Hit well and races away straight down the ground. He doesn't want to waste any time

36.2

de Silva to Head, no run, Head does a little shimmy, but is kept quiet by de Silva, defended in the end

36.1

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, Warner makes room and thrashes it straight to the fielder at long-off

35.6

Sachith Pathirana to Head, no run, ooh! That kept low and went under the bottom edge of Head. Well kept by Kusal again. He has been impressive

35.5

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, fraction short and Warner flays that to sweeper cover

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, byes, 2 runs, ooh! That turned in sharply and cut Warner in half. Beat him all ends up and so was the keeper. Missed the stumps by not much

34.6

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, there comes the hundred. He is back. Gritted teeth and relief etched on his face more than anything else. It was hard work today, like it has been all tour, but he stuck it out and didn't throw it away. The rewards are there to be seen now. Could've got out many times, but luck was with him and as the innings has progressed the old Warner whom we all love has begun to resurface. No exuberant celebrations. Off comes the helmet and then a hug with Head. Third ODI hundred vs Sri Lanka. Got there with a gentle nudge behind square

34.5

de Silva to Warner, no run, again finds a diving short cover. Nerves?

34.4

de Silva to Warner, no run, well flighted outside off, Warner drives and finds short cover

34.3

de Silva to Head, 1 run, gets Warner on strike with a punched single wide of mid-off

34.2

de Silva to Head, no run, punched to mid-on

Slip in for Head. Also mid-on in

Now on 99

34.1

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, tossed up on the stumps, Warner gets forward to drive to long-off

Dhananjaya de Silva [2.0-0-12-0] is back into the attack

33.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, stays back to this shortish ball and works through square leg

33.5

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, Warner wanted to tuck this one past leg-slip, could not control it properly

33.4

Sachith Pathirana to Head, 1 run, Head waits patiently in his crease and then tucks this with the turn to backward square leg

33.3

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, shortish ball that turns in sharply to Warner. He did well to control the pull to deep backward square leg

33.2

Sachith Pathirana to Head, 1 run, softly turns this one to short mid-wicket. Warner was a bit late to react but they get the single with ease in the end

33.1

Sachith Pathirana to Head, no run, floater on the stumps, pushed back to the bowler

Leg slip and a slip for the new man

32.6

Dilruwan Perera to Head, 1 run, pushes it wide of short cover and is off the mark

32.5

Dilruwan Perera to Head, no run, completely mistimed. Off the toe end as Head went for a big drive, the ball dribbles towards short cover

Travis Head, left handed bat, comes to the crease

32.4

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, out Lbw!! Given out lbw. Bailey has a word with Warner and they go for a review. Only thing that can save Bailey if it has pitched outside leg. No bat. Very full and Bailey missed the sweep. He has a sip and cooly waits for the ball-tracking to appear. In-line and it is clipping. So Bailey has to go. Some cheer for Sri Lanka. Too full to be sweeping and Bailey missed. Pitched just about in-line and since it was umpire's call, the onfield verdict stayed. Bailey lbw b Dilruwan Perera 44(73) [4s-2]

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!

Given out lbw. Bailey has a word with Warner and they go for a review. Only thing that can save Bailey if it has pitched outside leg. No bat. Very full and Bailey missed the sweep. He has a sip and cooly waits for the ball-tracking to appear. In-line and it is clipping. So Bailey has to go

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, flat and on the stumps, punched to short cover

32.1

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, gets forward and drives to long-on

31.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, rocks back and punches to short cover

31.5

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 1 run, cuts to sweeper cover

31.4

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, wooh! That is unplayable. Too good for Bailey. Sachith Pathirana shortened the length and pitched it on middle, once it hit the deck, it ripped square, opened Bailey up and went over middle stump. Kusal again gloved it neatly. Sri Lanka have been left to rue their luck. Bailey played completely down the wrong line and was beaten all ends up

31.3

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, uses his feet and still can't get it away, finds short mid-wicket

31.2

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, gently nudged to short mid-wicket

31.1

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, looks to tap and run, in front of short cover, but straight to the fielder

30.6

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, takes it on the full and reverse paddles, Pathirana from short third, does enough to keep it to a single

30.5

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 1 run, short and outside off, thumped to sweeper cover. With that single, Warner has the highest score for an Aussie in Sri Lanka in ODIs. Surprising - that no Aussie has got past 94 here before. Shows how the spinners have had a sway

30.4

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, had he left that, it would've been a wide, but Bailey reverse sweeps that delivery from well outside leg

30.3

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 1 run, sliding onto off and middle, Warner gently dabs a single wide of cover-point

30.2

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 2 runs, now rocks back and punches to deep backward point, easy two

30.1

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, FOUR, he has smashed that. Authoritative from the Aussie skipper. Not that short, but he goes down on one knee and swipes powerfully across the line. Lots of power behind that hit and no chance for the diving long-on. He is into the 90s now

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, comes down the track and then aborts his attempt at a big hit, defends

29.4

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 1 run, goes right back and punches a single to long-on

29.3

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, waits for the ball to turn in, then deftly angles that in front of backward point for a single

29.2

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, has to do the same again as Sachith Pathirana keeps it tight on off

29.1

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, Warner tries to get forward then defends from the crease back to Sachith Pathirana

Sachith Pathirana [4.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack

28.6

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, full outside off, pushed back to Lakmal who mocks to throw and then does so gently. Bailey is unruffled by all that theatrics

28.5

Lakmal to Warner, 3 runs, he has skied that over mid-wicket. No timing at all on the heave. The ball plugs in the outfield and Pathirana running back saves a run

28.4

Lakmal to Warner, no run, yorker length on the stumps, Warner digs it out back to Lakmal. Has a look at his toe end of the bat after digging it out

28.3

Lakmal to Warner, no run, fullish on off, Warner defends to cover and yells out a loud "no" to Bailey

28.2

Lakmal to Warner, no run, slower delivery on the stumps, Warner opens the face of the bat to guide it to the right of point. Good diving stop

28.1

Lakmal to Warner, FOUR, he hasn't timed that, but still gets four. Cutter from Lakmal, Warner pulled that across the line and it went off the thickish inside half, but beat mid-on and that was enough for the ball to find the boundary

27.6

Aponso to Bailey, FOUR, there he has found the gap. Hit hard and beats the dive from backward point. Powered away past the man. Finally Bailey nails one reverse sweep

27.5

Aponso to Bailey, no run, well tossed up outside off, driven hard but straight to the fielder at cover

27.4

Aponso to Bailey, no run, he has found the backward point fielder with his reverse sweeps today. Finds the man and curses himself for not hitting the gap

27.3

Aponso to Bailey, 2 runs, shortish and turning away, Bailey reaches out and cuts wide of sweeper cover. Easy two

27.2

Aponso to Warner, 1 run, now gets forward and eases a single to long-on

27.1

Aponso to Warner, 2 runs, down leg and Warner reverse sweeps to third man, sliding stop prevents the boundary

26.6

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, flying stop to his right by the man at backward point. Saved a run at least. Punched with an open face and needed acrobatics from the fielder to prevent runs

26.5

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, dug in short and Bailey is happy to sway out of the way. Called one short ball for the over

26.4

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, the 100-run stand is up! Shake of the hand and that's about it. Stands tall and punches to sweeper cover. These two are doing it easily

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, cutter on the stumps, nudged through mid-wicket. Warner wants two, but Bailey sends him back

Back over the wicket

26.1

Lakmal to Warner, FOUR, dismissed! Brutal from Warner, he wants to end this quickly. No respect whatsoever for Lakmal, sees the overpitched delivery outside off and thunders it wide of mid-off. A step forward and crunched

Chandimal has had enough of the spinners. Brings Lakmal back on. Is that the last throw of the dice? From round the wicket with a slip in place

25.6

Aponso to Warner, 1 run, tossed up and Warner gets forward to ease a single to long-on

25.5

Aponso to Warner, no run, this turns in and bounces a bit extra, Warner gets forward to defend and misses, is hit on the thigh pad. Easily going down

25.4

Aponso to Warner, 2 runs, dragged down, swiped across the line, wide of long-on. Easy two

25.3

Aponso to Bailey, 1 run, reverse swept to backward point, Lakmal dives to his left and dives over the ball, misfields and gives away a single

25.2

Aponso to Bailey, no run, comes down the track and isn't to the pitch of it, so has to pad it away and does so

25.1

Aponso to Warner, 1 run, quick single to short mid-wicket, placed to the left of the man and they go across to take the run

24.6

de Silva to Bailey, no run, the leading edge doesn't carry to cover. Bailey too early into the leg-side clip and luckily for him it falls well short of the fielder

24.5

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, gets forward and drives to long-off

24.4

de Silva to Warner, FOUR, one bounce over the ropes. It was dragged down short and Warner is quick to latch back and pummel a pull over mid-wicket. Nearly went all the way

24.3

de Silva to Bailey, 1 run, tossed up on off, wristed past a diving short mid-wicket

24.2

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, wanted to sweep that initially, but decided to nudge a single behind square

24.1

de Silva to Bailey, 1 run, reverse sweeps from middle and leg to sweeper cover

23.6

Aponso to Warner, FOUR, now he is slowly coming back to form. That's bad signs for Sri Lanka. It was tossed up outside off and he leant forward, opened the bat face and drove it wide of cover. Once it beat that man, it raced away. He is hitting them along the ground now as well. 12 off the over and suddenly just 91 required now

23.5

Aponso to Bailey, 1 run, on the stumps, Bailey rocks back to cut to deep point

23.4

Aponso to Bailey, no run, slower on off, Bailey gets forward to block

23.3

Aponso to Warner, 1 run, stays back and guides a single wide of point

Now a slip in. Too late?

23.2

Aponso to Warner, FOUR, wow! That has taken the outside edge but there is no slip. Leg-slip is there but the ball draws Warner forward, he is off-balance as he pushed to defend, the ball turns and takes the edge, beats the keeper and runs away. Aponso almost had Warner there

23.1

Aponso to Warner, 2 runs, fifty for DW as DM says on air. Figure that out for yourselves. Backs away to cut and gets a thick outside edge past the vacant slip and Lakmal plugs it back. Warner is happy with two and that's a hard-earned fifty. One that he needed quite badly. No celebration at all. Just gets on with it. He wants more

22.6

de Silva to Bailey, no run, nudged to short mid-wicket

22.5

de Silva to Bailey, no run, that slides on past the outside edge from round the wicket. Bailey pushing forward to play for the offie, but the angle goes against him and the ball just keeps going away, past the edge

22.4

de Silva to Warner, 1 run, slightly quicker and Warner is back to clip to deep square leg

22.3

de Silva to Warner, no run, well tossed up on middle, Warner gets forward to block

22.2

de Silva to Bailey, 1 run, very slow and on the stumps, Bailey gets back to flick to deep mid-wicket

He is bowling from round the wicket

22.1

de Silva to Bailey, 2 runs, cute little paddle from middle, well placed for a couple to fine leg

Dhananjaya de Silva, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

21.6

Aponso to Warner, no run, this slides on quick and around off, Warner is on the back foot to tap it back to the bowler

21.5

Aponso to Warner, no run, turning in, nudged to short mid-wicket

21.4

Aponso to Warner, no run, goes back and punches straight to the fielder at point

21.3

Aponso to Warner, FOUR, how well has he hit that? Risk involved for he took it from the stumps, but he has timed it beautifully. Reverse hits all along the carpet and beats sweeper to his right. Aponso is left perplexed by that hit

21.2

Aponso to Warner, no run, slower and on off, Warner stays back to block

21.1

Aponso to Bailey, 1 run, uses his feet and drives to long-off

20.6

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, much more solid forward block

20.5

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, quicker and on off, Warner is late on the defence, that's why the thick inside edge is found. Disappointment for the Lankans

20.4

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, pre-meditated reverse sweep, taken from middle and down to sweeper cover

20.3

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 1 run, driven to long-off once more

20.2

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, now stays in his crease and keeps the off stump delivery out

20.1

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, FOUR, 'that's the best shot he has played today' says Brian M on air and full marks to Warner for thrashing that half volley wide of long-off. Drilled that along the carpet and gave the fielder no chance. First one has really timed and sped away

19.6

Aponso to Bailey, no run, catches Bailey on the pad, but sliding down leg. Stifled appeal dies down

19.5

Aponso to Bailey, no run, well bowled! That's the arm-ball and so nearly castles Bailey. Bailey goes "oooohhhh" with his mouth wide open in amazement. He knew that he had misjudged that. Expected it to turn, but it skidded on towards off and in the end, his chop goes wide of slip

19.4

Aponso to Bailey, no run, now reverse sweeps and can't beat the diving backward point

19.3

Aponso to Bailey, no run, on middle, Bailey gets forward to block

19.2

Aponso to Bailey, no run, well flighted delivery outside off, Bailey went for a big drive and mistimed it, to the right of Aponso

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, slides this one on the stumps, Warner blocks from his crease

Just a slip in place for Perera

Dilruwan Perera [5.0-1-19-2] is back into the attack

Time for a drink. Australia are on course. Not the way they motored to the target in the last ODI, but slowly and steadily. That's because Finch hasn't batted. Also Sri Lanka have bowled much better with Lakmal leading the way. Warner could've been out so many times, but luck has helped him. Sri Lanka need wickets and quickly to make a comeback. Let's wait and watch what happens...

15.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, slower and on the stumps, Warner gets forward and drives to long-on

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, reverse sweeps now and finds backward point, no timing at all

15.3

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, now flashes a cut and misses. Bounced over the top edge

15.2

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, no run, close! Bailey leaves the arm ball outside off alone, it doesn't come back in enough to hit off. Good enough leave then?

15.1

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, leg byes, 1 run, Aleem Dar has given that as a legbye. I can't understand that. That is smashed by Warner and the thick inside edge onto the pad goes into the vacant backward short leg area. Definitely catchable but no fielder there. Dar got that wrong

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, 3 runs, a good half-stop turns out to be costly. Why? Because the ball has wrong-footed mid-off and run away. Driven to cover, who parried it and Lakmal at mid-off was going the other way, three taken by the time the ball is plugged back into play

14.4

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, no run, pitched up outside off, square driven, well and a good stop at point diving to his right. Saved a couple at least

14.3

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, FOUR, can the fielder get there? No he can't. Flicked in the air and beats Kusal Mendis running to his left from deep square. He dived but the ball was well out of his reach. Runs away to the fence. Much needed boundary as the pressure was building up

14.2

Dasun Shanaka to Warner, 1 run, went too hard on the cover drive, the bat face closed and the ball dribbles away wide of mid-wicket. Another false stroke

14.1

Dasun Shanaka to Warner, no run, on the stumps, flicked to short mid-wicket

13.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, gets forward and drills a single to long-on

13.5

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, good that he got some under edge on that. Or else there would've been a huge shout for lbw. Warner's edge finds leg-slip

13.4

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, slower and on the stumps, Warner stays back to nudge to short mid-wicket

13.3

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 1 run, uses his feet and drives to long-off

13.2

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, nudges a single to square leg

13.1

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, no run, caught at leg-slip! But is there any deflection? Yes there was! Why didn't the Lankans not go for a review? Warner knelt down to sweep and top-edged it to leg-slip. A juggled take and for some strange reason, there was no convinction in the appeal. That's why Aleem Dar too rejected the appeal. Replays show a clear edge. Warner was ever so cool and didn't give anything away. He must have known for sure, that he had edged it. There was not even a discussion about a review. That is very unlike the Sri Lankans

12.6

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, no run, full outside off, lovely square drive, sweetly timed, but straight to the fielder at point

12.5

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, no run, good length outside off, Bailey pushes to point

12.4

Dasun Shanaka to Bailey, no run, back of a length on off, Bailey stands tall to block

12.3

Dasun Shanaka to Warner, 1 run, full on the stumps, Warner gets forward and drives to long-off

Mid-off back now

12.2

Dasun Shanaka to Warner, no run, lovely inswinging yorker, wobbled in the air, Warner digs it out

The keeper is up now

12.1

Dasun Shanaka to Warner, no run, first real shot that he has timed for a while, but he has hit that straight to the fielder at mid-off. Overpitched outside off and Warner drills it to the man inside the circle

Dasun Shanaka, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

11.6

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, Warner wanted to paddle that first, then saw the tossed up delivery outside off and decided to dab it with soft hands, quick single to the right of backward point

11.5

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 1 run, too short and outside off, Bailey reaches out and chops a single to deep cover

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 1 run, sliding on outside off, Bailey rocks back to cut to deep point

11.2

Sachith Pathirana to Bailey, 2 runs, trifle short and spinning away, Bailey cuts uppishly but in the gap at point. Two it is

Slip in and from round the wicket

11.1

Sachith Pathirana to Warner, 1 run, slower and on the stumps, allows Warner the time to kneel down and pull to fine leg

Sachith Pathirana, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack

10.6

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, angled in, Warner has taken a step out and shuffled outside off, uses the angle to get a single behind square

Now round the wicket

10.6

Lakmal to Warner, wide, first real ill-directed delivery from Lakmal, down leg and that is a wide

10.5

Lakmal to Bailey, 1 run, short of length outside off, Bailey opens the face of the bat and runs it down to third man

10.4

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, back of a length outside off, pushed to short cover off the back foot

10.3

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, peace after all the mania. Gently nudges a length delivery to deep square leg to get a single

10.2

Lakmal to Warner, no run, Warner dives and gets back in. He would've been in even if there was a direct hit as he slid his bat in. Desperation from him, gets a thick inside edge onto the pad and the ball rolls to the left of Lakmal, for some reason he wants the quick single, but has to hurry back on seeing the bowler get to the ball. In the end his full-length dive saved him. Now gets up and takes some time off by dusting himself off, has a sip as well

10.1

Lakmal to Bailey, 1 run, short outside off, Bailey pulls to deep mid-wicket. First run after 14 balls

9.6

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, on off, Warner opens his stance out and defends with an open bat, the ball rolls to point

9.5

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, pushed back to the bowler

9.4

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, and what can one say about that? We have seen everything this over. This is the Dilruwan Perera special, drifts in, pitches and turns away past the forward defence of Warner. Pitched short of the defence and bounced past the edge. Too good, too good for Warner and for most batsmen around the world. How is Warner even surviving? Only he will know

9.3

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, he is trying his best, but Dilruwan Perera is too good for Warner at the moment. Quicker full ball outside off, Warner reverse sweeps and misses. Great take by Kusal too. Warner is all at sea

9.2

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, now tosses it up on off, Warner gets forward to block

9.1

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, he is skidding on, and Warner is beaten for pace. He is unable to get Dilruwan Perera away, down leg, Warner flicks and misses

8.6

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, magnificent over from Lakmal comes to an end and full marks to Bailey for not getting carried away. He respected the quality stuff dished out by the bowler and didn't do anything fancy. Blocks to mid-on to a full delivery on the stumps

8.5

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, sliding down leg, Bailey flicks and misses. Rolls off the thigh pad behind square

8.4

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, nothing from Lakmal. Miserly. Superb stuff this. On the stumps, defended to short cover

8.3

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, good length on off stump, Bailey defends from the crease to point

8.2

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, stump to stump line, Bailey watchfully defends it back down the track

8.1

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, on the stumps, nudged to short mid-wicket

7.6

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, sliding down leg, Warner wears it on the pad

7.5

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, ooh! Another ball that is destined to hit off, until Warner plays it late and chops it to point. Misjudged the length and wanted to cut, mistimed it, he is clearly struggling

7.4

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, Lakmal is caught napping at backward point. A direct hit and Warner was gone. Hesitation from Bailey and had there been a more sharper fielder, could've made it more interesting. The throw is wide and that allows Warner to scamper home. Definitely half a chance

7.3

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, no run, tossed up outside off, pushed back to Dilruwan Perera

A leg-slip for Bailey

7.2

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 1 run, trifle short and Warner is on the back foot to pull to deep backward square leg

7.1

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, so nearly. The slider, comes back in and cramps Warner for room. He has made up his mind to play the cut, come what may, chops it into the ground and has to be careful to see that the ball doesn't roll back on

6.6

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, late movement and nearly squares Bailey up. Almost sneaked through his defences. Pitched on a fuller length around off and Bailey did well to play that with soft hands, to point

6.5

Lakmal to Warner, leg byes, 1 run, now cramps Warner for room with a rib-tickler. Off the thigh pad and it's a legbye

6.4

Lakmal to Warner, no run, Lakmal can't believe his luck. He is cursing himself or his luck. Nothing push away from the body from Warner without any footwork to a delivery angled across and so nearly an outside edge

6.3

Lakmal to Bailey, 1 run, and again attacking the stumps, Bailey nudges towards the vacant square leg area

6.2

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, back of a length on off, Bailey plays a rock-solid back foot defence

6.2

Lakmal to Bailey, wide, what a good take by Kusal Perera diving one-handed to his left. Saved four there. Slipped down leg and bounced a lot as well

6.1

Lakmal to Bailey, no run, nips back in from a good length and catches Bailey on the back foot. Sliding down leg as the ball hits the thigh pad

5.6

Dilruwan Perera to Bailey, 1 run, full on the stumps, nudged wide of mid-wicket for a single

George Bailey, right handed bat, comes to the crease

5.5

Dilruwan Perera to Khawaja, out Caught by Gunathilaka!! Khawaja seems to have not learnt his lessons at all. He has struggled all tour against the spinners and here is another example of how shot his brain is. The field was changed with mid-wicket kept vacant, clever from Chandimal and Dilruwan Perera. The bowler dropped his length back on seeing Khawaja advance, it turned slightly as well, Khawaja went for the flick over mid-wicket and could only get a leading edge to cover-point. A dolly and Khawaja's sorry tour comes to an end. One which he would want to forget in a hurry. How quickly can fortunes turn in this great game. Around 4 months back, he was making runs for fun, now is in a dreadful slump. That's how the cookie crumbles. Khawaja c Gunathilaka b Dilruwan Perera 6(6) [4s-1]

Dilruwan Perera to Khawaja, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

5.4

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 1 run, quick and down leg, Warner goes back to tuck it to deep square leg, only a single

5.3

Dilruwan Perera to Khawaja, 1 run, now employs the conventional sweep and gets a single to deep backward square

5.2

Dilruwan Perera to Khawaja, FOUR, takes it on the half volley and it is taken from the stumps, gets low and paddles it, beating deep backward square. Lots of vacant space there and Khawaja gets a boundary

Now a FSL is added to a slip for Khawaja

5.1

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, 3 runs, Khawaja isn't the swiftest of runners between the wickets, but Warner pushes him and they come back for the third. Punched wide of cover-point and stopped inside the ropes with a slide

4.6

Lakmal to Khawaja, no run, another off-pace delivery, Khawaja gets forward to block

4.5

Lakmal to Khawaja, no run, more good work from Kusal Mendis. This time another dive to his right to stop the back foot punch

4.4

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, pitched up outside off, Warner didn't time the square drive as well as he would've liked, Kusal Mendis does well at cover-point as he dives to his right and keeps it to a single. Is up quickly to shy at the stumps as well. Can't prevent the single though

4.3

Lakmal to Warner, no run, off break on the stumps, Warner defends with bat and pad together

4.2

Lakmal to Warner, 2 runs, three fielders are behind that. Third man gets there first and keeps it to two. It was three easy runs but the quickness of the fielder sowed a seed of doubt in the batsmen's minds. False stroke from Warner, frustration as he throws his bat and the thick sliced loft goes over point

4.1

Lakmal to Warner, no run, Lakmal is getting the ball to zip off the track. Warner flashes and misses. Bouncing outside off and Warner lashed out without any footwork. Flies over the top edge

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, quicker on the stumps, pushed back to Dilruwan Perera

3.4

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, shortish and Warner rocks back to punch, can't beat cover

3.3

Dilruwan Perera to Khawaja, 1 run, sliding on towards off, Khawaja gets forward to defend and the ball runs off a thick inside edge behind square, off the mark with that single

Usman Khawaja, left handed bat, comes to the crease

3.2

Dilruwan Perera to Wade, out Caught by K Perera!! Is there glove on that? Aleem Dar shakes his head, waits for the vociferous appeal to die down and then comically signals a wide. What do Sri Lanka have up their sleeve? Chandimal goes for the review. And lo! There is glove and what a good review that is. Extra bounce doing the trick for Dilruwan Perera, Wade knelt down and attempted a paddle sweep, the bounce missed the bat but not the glove and an exceptional take down leg by Kusal. He followed the ball and gloved it cleanly. Went up straightaway and so did Chandimal. Not given and overturned on review. That's the early wicket that Sri Lanka needed so badly. Wade c K Perera b Dilruwan Perera 3(13)

Dilruwan Perera to Wade, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

Is there glove on that? Aleem Dar shakes his head, waits for the vociferous appeal to die down and comically signals a wide. What do Sri Lanka have up their sleeve? Chandimal goes for the review. And lo! There is glove and what a good review that is

3.1

Dilruwan Perera to Wade, no run, what was that? Dilruwan Perera goes up for the most ambitious of lbw appeals. Wade was way down the track and since he wasn't to the pitch of the ball, padded it away. Easily more than 3 metres down. No way that was out

2.6

Lakmal to Warner, 2 runs, full and angling away, Warner went hard on the cover drive, the bat face closed and that's why the ball went wide of mid-wicket. Easy couple

2.5

Lakmal to Wade, 1 run, back of a length outside off, punched to the right of the sliding mid-off. Well-judged single

Just a lone slip in place for Lakmal

2.4

Lakmal to Wade, no run, driven to the right of Lakmal who deflects it to mid-off, is quick to send Warner back

2.3

Lakmal to Wade, no run, full on the stumps, pushed back to Lakmal

2.2

Lakmal to Wade, no run, loud shout for lbw dies down pretty quickly once Lakmal realised that there was an inside edge onto the pad. Quick and sliding on, Wade's punch meant with a thin edge and that's why the Lankans went quiet

2.1

Lakmal to Wade, no run, hurried for pace. It nipped back in sharply and Wade's attempted pull could only find the inside edge onto the thigh

1.6

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, now shuffles across and defends a delivery heading towards off

1.5

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, FOUR, there comes the reverse sweep. Pre-meditated but pulled off nicely, saw it outside off and paddled it fine, beating the fielder inside the ring at short third

1.4

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, is hurried by the quicker delivery, wants to come forward, but has to jam it awkwardly and does so to cover

1.3

Dilruwan Perera to Warner, no run, that is a rippah! Drifting in from round the wicket, once it pitches, it turns away, pitches short of the forward defence of Warner and the spinning ball misses both the outside edge and the off stump. Can't do much about those, except hope that it doesn't have your name on that

1.2

Dilruwan Perera to Wade, 1 run, tossed up on off, Wade opens his stance out and drives to long-off

Just a lone slip in place

1.1

Dilruwan Perera to Wade, no run, tossed up on off, from round the wicket, Wade stretches out and defends towards point

Dilruwan Perera, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

0.6

Lakmal to Warner, no run, full and on the stumps, Warner shuffles across slightly and defends. End of a good opening over

0.5

Lakmal to Wade, 1 run, full outside off, Wade drives forcefully back to the bowler who sticks his left-hand out and deflects it away towards short mid-wicket. That allows the quick single to be taken

0.4

Lakmal to Wade, no run, cracker! Pace and extra zip off the deck for Lakmal, got it to shape back in and beat the inside edge on the forcing shot. Almost a nick through to the keeper

0.4

Lakmal to Wade, wide, slipping down leg, easy call

0.3

Lakmal to Wade, no run, back of a length outside off, Wade defends back down the track

Wade is opening because Finch injured his finger and he is seen looking at that

0.2

Lakmal to Wade, no run, short of length outside off, punched to cover

0.1

Lakmal to Warner, 1 run, ooh! That nipped back in sharply and Warner did well to get his bat down in time, almost sneaked through. A single to fine leg and Warner is off the mark

Welcome back... Should be a short chase - if one goes by what happened in the last game. Finch started off like he had a plane to catch and then was followed suit by Bailey. Australia's ploy is simple - score as many runs as possible with the new ball before other factors come into play. The series is over but the hosts have pride to play for and if they can get wickets with the new ball, then it won't be an easy cruise for Australia. Definitely helping the spinners and interesting to see what happens. Do stay tuned...

Warner and Wade are at the crease. Warner is on strike. Lakmal will open the attack

There are cracks on the pitch which are likely to widen further as the game progresses. But Australia would like to believe that they have got this one under control. Considering how they approached the target in the last ODI, who are we to question their belief! Chase coming your way in 40 minutes...

Sri Lanka scored the first 73 runs in 13.4 overs without losing a wicket - their best opening stand of the series. In the next 17.2 overs, they added 72 runs and lost 6 wickets. The next four did not yield much as the Aussie spinners chipped in with a couple of wickets to make sure that Sri Lanka never recovered. Earlier Faulkner was the one who provided the breakthrough, soon Danushka Gunathilaka's foolhardy attempt saw his end and Warner did not miss the opportunity to pin the hosts down by getting Starc back into the attack. Once the trunk had faltered, it was almost impossible for the tail to put up a fight against Starc who, with every match, proves why yorkers continue to be the best weapon.

40.2

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, out Caught by Faulkner!! Stunned silence among the ground. Not what they would have liked to witness on a Sunday evening, yet another poor batting show from the Sri Lankans. Full delivery, wide of off, Pathirana's feet doesn't move much. Looks to force a drive over mid-off, goes too hard and offers a dolly to Faulkner at mid-off. Skewed off the toe-end, Faulkner went for the reverse-cup. Easy peasy! Sachith Pathirana c Faulkner b Boland 32(38) [4s-4]

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

40.1

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, no run, 140kph, length ball targetting the stumps, Pathirana taps it into the on-side

39.6

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, he has to and yes he does! Utilizes the width on offer to run a length delivery to third man

39.5

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, fuller one swerving in, Pathirana works in front of mid-wicket. Will be interesting to see what he does on the last ball, will he take a single?

39.4

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, steers to third man and is happy to stay his ground

39.4

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no ball, FOUR, and he succeeds. 140kph high full toss, above waist height and called. Pathirana just twists his knees and opens the face to ramp it along the ground. Raced away! Starc apologizes instantly, good to see that...

39.3

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, full one curls in around middle, Pathirana gets across to jam it into the on-side

39.2

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, yet again denies a single, went for the square drive and middled it, doesn't want a run

39.1

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, full ball tempting the drive, Pathirana drives to cover sweeper but doesn't want a single. Maybe he's not confident of Aponso's batting skills. It's four-or-none at the moment

38.6

Boland to Aponso, no run, angled in off a good length, Aponso turns it to short mid-wicket

38.5

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, steers a length delivery towards third man, getting close to that 200-mark...

38.4

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, FOUR, full and wide at 130kph, too much width and asking for trouble. Pathirana leans into an aerial drive and strokes it over cover. Khawaja gives chase from sweeper but to no avail

38.3

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, no run, looks to deviate one with the angle, chops it to the right of backward point who moves swiftly to field

38.2

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, no run, back of a length on off, Pathirana stays back to offer a dead-bat

38.1

Boland to Sachith Pathirana, no run, quite fullish outside off, Pathirana throws his hands through a drive, but couldn't clear the off-side ring

Scott Boland [5.0-0-23-0] is back into the attack

37.6

Starc to Aponso, no run, wooof! Just, just. Another ball speared in towards middle, Aponso somehow manages to get bat on it

Amila Aponso, right handed bat, comes to the crease

37.5

Starc to Lakmal, out Bowled!! Its like bowling to the under-11s. Watchout cricketing world, Mitchell Starc is churning out yorkers for fun in a land which produced one of the best yorker bowlers in the world. And hey! He's on a hat-trick now. Toe-crusher from round the wicket, rockets into the base of middle stump before Lakmal woke up. Late to bring his bat down and paid the price. Lakmal b Starc 0(1)

Starc to Lakmal, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!

Suranga Lakmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

37.4

Starc to Dilruwan Perera, out Bowled!! What happened there? Quite baffled to see Russel A going mute on air. Absolutely no excitement whatsoever. Too good a nut for Dilruwan Perera, Starc goes wide of the crease and spears a length delivery that straightens slightly to smack the middle stump. Perera was late to bring his bat down and played down the wrong line. Mitchell Starc has a quizzical smile as he turns back to his bowling crease quite disdainfully. Dilruwan Perera b Starc 5(7) [4s-1]

Starc to Dilruwan Perera, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!

37.3

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, goes back and rides the bounce to angle this length delivery through backward square

37.3

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, wide, that may have slipped out of his fingers. Pacy full toss angled down leg, Pathirana missed it and Wade did well to gather it and prevent any extra runs

37.2

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, hops in the crease and manoeuvres a length delivery towards mid-wicket

37.1

Starc to Sachith Pathirana, no run, hits the deck hard and thuds the splice of Pathirana as he shows a straight bat, from back of a length and Starc extracted some extra bounce

17:12 Local Time: The rain is getting heavier as the crowd wait in anticipation. Looks like the clouds are blowing it away as Starc gets ready to bowl from over the wicket

36.6

Zampa to Dilruwan Perera, no run, played back to the bowler

36.5

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, unleashes the sweep to a legbreak, easy single to fine leg

36.4

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, no run, sits back inside the crease to block and a good stop by Warner diving across from short mid-wicket. Prevented the single

36.3

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, no run, slider on leg, Pathirana dabs to the on-side

36.2

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, FOUR, dross from Adam Zampa! Serves up another full toss on middle, a jump down the pitch followed by a loft, off the middle and there she goes

36.1

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, FOUR, for a moment, Sachith Pathirana would have had his heart in his mouth. Preempts and dances down to play a biggie. The full toss dips in and hits the splice as Pathirana aimed leg-side, tantalizingly lobs over a backtracking mid-off. Starc was the fielder, he gives chase and slides inches inside the rope, was in contact with the ropes while pulling the ball back

35.6

Faulkner to Dilruwan Perera, no run, is well forward and right behind the line of this delivery, negated!

35.5

Faulkner to Dilruwan Perera, no run, well bowled! Disguising slower ball just cutting across the outside edge of Perera, came back in before deviating away from the line to whistle past the edge

35.4

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, 128kph, outside off, Pathirana camps back to slap it square on the off-side, will only get a single

35.3

Faulkner to Dilruwan Perera, 1 run, off-cutter, hint of width, enough for Perera to milk a half-hearted drive through the off-side

35.2

Faulkner to Dilruwan Perera, no run, brings it in with the angle, Perera, with bat-pad tucked together, defends

Switches to round the wicket now

35.2

Faulkner to Dilruwan Perera, wide, bowls a 134kph bumper, slanted across the batsman who ducks slighly to evade. Marginal call but umpire Aleem Dar reckons it as a wide

35.1

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, shuffles across his off-stump and knocks it in the gap through mid-wicket, no matter how they come, Sri Lanka will take all these

34.6

Zampa to Dilruwan Perera, FOUR, pitched halfway down the track and Dilruwan Perera accepts the gift gleefully. Rocked back and belted the cross-bat swat through mid-wicket, couldn't have asked for a better ball to get off the mark

Dilruwan Perera, right handed bat, comes to the crease

34.5

Zampa to Dasun Shanaka, out Bowled!! Got him! Sri Lanka sink into the mire. Beautifully bowled by Adam Zampa, bowls at 85kph and ensures the trajectory is flat. Just enough to deceive Dasun Shanaka who may have expected some spin. There wasn't any unfortunately, rises a bit extra than he expected to slam the top of off peg. Shanaka was perhaps looking for a dab to third man, but the ball got to him quickly. Grim overhead and so is the mood in the Sri Lanka camp. Dasun Shanaka b Zampa 13(17) [4s-1]

Zampa to Dasun Shanaka, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!

34.4

Zampa to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, got down on one knee and swept a legspinner to deep backward square

34.3

Zampa to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, takes a couple of steps down to take it on the half volley, succeeds as he gets inside the line and drives to long-off

Zampa to Dasun Shanaka, no run, legbreak just outside off, Shanaka goes on the back foot and punches to cover

34.1

Zampa to Dasun Shanaka, no run, slides in on middle, not much turn, smothered down the pitch

Adam Zampa [4.0-0-27-1] is back into the attack

It's drizzling at the moment. Umpires have a conflab and decide it's okay to continue at the moment

33.6

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, 2 runs, width again, Pathirana is content to repeat a relatively similar stroke to fetch another duo of runs

33.5

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, 2 runs, steers a slower short ball wide of third man as groundstaff get ready with the covers. It has gone pretty dark out there

33.4

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, back of a length outside off, left alone to the keeper

33.3

Faulkner to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, length on middle, Shanaka strokes it to backward square for an easy single

33.2

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, 1 run, edged and just short of the Aussie skipper at first slip. Warner was standing quite wide but wouldn't have carried had he stayed at the normal first slip position. Faulkner bowls it slow, gets good grip off the surface to square Pathirana up. Opens the bat face late and therefore the edge falls just short and skims wide of Warner to his right

33.1

Faulkner to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, angles a slower ball from round the wicket, Shanaka banks on width to run it down to third man, didn't come back in too much to threaten an edge

Time for a drink as Australia, yet again, look dominant. Both batters are relatively new and there's not much batting left after this pair. Can Australia wrap it up and chase a modest total? Pitch has certainly slowed down but there are signs that you get full value for the shots if you play it straight and late. Kusal Mendis' brief innings was a prime example of the same. Here's Faulkner again...

32.6

Head to Sachith Pathirana, 2 runs, deft! Waits on the back foot and plays it ever so late, steers off the middle towards third man

32.5

Head to Sachith Pathirana, 2 runs, slows it up outside off, Pathirana tamely cuts, had enough power though to pierce the gap and claim a double

32.4

Head to Sachith Pathirana, no run, loopy on middle, tucked off the pads to backward square

32.3

Head to Sachith Pathirana, no run, looks to cut but ends up chopping it into the off-side

32.2

Head to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, clips a flatter delivery behind square on the leg-side

32.1

Head to Dasun Shanaka, FOUR, Dasun Shanaka plays it his way! Wiggles down the pitch and launches an offbreak over mid-wicket, played with the turn and got good elevation too

31.6

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, looks to block, ekes it off the outside half into the off-side

31.5

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, drives and finds mid-on

31.4

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, yet again looks to force one through the off-side, the ball isn't quite coming on nicely. Or was it because of Faulkner's subtle pace? A mix of both reckon, beaten again!

31.3

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, dabbed to backward point

31.2

Faulkner to Sachith Pathirana, no run, looks to run it down to third man and is beaten on the outside edge, undone by the slowness of the delivery I reckon

31.1

Faulkner to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, fetches it from off and knocks it in the gap at mid-wicket

James Faulkner [4.0-0-18-1] is back into the attack

Sachith Pathirana, left handed bat, comes to the crease

30.6

Head to K Perera, out Lbw!! Kusal Perera has been given out lbw. He wants a review, after a brief discussion with his partner. Did he get an inside edge? Very hard to judge from the straight angle. Side-on angle tells us a different picture albeit. Just, just grazing or should I say sniffing the minutest of inside edges. TV ump. seems to have satisfied that there's no edge on that. Ball tracking: THREE REDS and Kusal Perera is gone. Going onto demolish the middle of middle, SL have lost their only review. Coming to the delivery: It was an offbreak that skidded through and rapped Perera just below the knee roll. Hit in line with middle and off and up went the finger straightaway. Roshan Abeysinghe is fuming on air, he reckons there's an inside edge. But, tbh there's no conclusive evidence to overturn the onfield call. K Perera lbw b Head 14(27) [4s-2]

Head to K Perera, THAT'S OUT!! Lbw!!

Kusal Perera has been given out lbw. He wants a review, after a brief discussion with his partner. Did he get an inside edge? Very hard to judge from the straight angle. Side-on angle tells us a different picture albeit. Just, just grazing or should I say sniffing the minutest of inside edges. TV ump. seems to have satisfied that there's no edge on that. Ball tracking: THREE REDS and Kusal Perera is gone. Going onto demolish the middle of middle

30.5

Head to K Perera, no run, ooohhhh! This one spun a long away, pitched on middle and tweaked away past the poking blade of Perera

30.4

Head to K Perera, no run, forward and defended

30.3

Head to K Perera, FOUR, edged again! Flays his hands through a cut, bit of extra bounce taking the edge and racing away to the third man fence

30.2

Head to K Perera, no run, played back again

30.1

Head to K Perera, no run, stays legside of the delivery as he saunters down the track, gets too close to the pitch of the delivery and ends up jamming the drive back to the bowler

29.6

Starc to K Perera, 1 run, angled into the pads, nudged to mid-wicket to pick up an easy single

29.5

Starc to K Perera, no run, defended back to the bowler

29.4

Starc to K Perera, no run, one for the over signals umpire Aleem Dar after Perera leaves a short ball

29.3

Starc to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, outside edge and just wide of Warner at 1st slip. Pushes at a full, wide delivery with no feet movement, flies past the Aussie skipper to his right, third man tidies up

29.2

Starc to Dasun Shanaka, no run, from round the wicket to the right-hander, attacking the stumps. Nearly 150ks, Shanaka is happy to block

29.1

Starc to K Perera, leg byes, 1 run, full ball, tilting towards leg-stump, Perera is late on the flick, strikes the pads and rolls to short fine

28.6

Head to Dasun Shanaka, no run, slower through the air, kept out

28.5

Head to Dasun Shanaka, 2 runs, too full to sweep, but still manages to skew it off the middle, fetchig it from outside off and milking it through mid-wicket

28.4

Head to K Perera, 1 run, sat back and used the length on offer to chop it behind point

28.3

Head to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run, floater on middle, pushed to long-on

28.2

Head to Dasun Shanaka, no run, looks to force his wrists through the flick, ends up striking it too hard, picks out short mid-wicket

28.1

Head to Dasun Shanaka, no run, offspinner on the stumps, turned into the leg-side

27.6

Starc to K Perera, no run, gets forward and taps a length delivery with soft hands

27.6

Starc to K Perera, wide, sends a length ball down the wrong line, slides past Perera's hip as he turns around after missing the glance

27.5

Starc to K Perera, no run, too full and tailing in, Perera jams it from the crease

27.4

Starc to K Perera, FOUR, did that carry? Might have been off the half-volley. Mitch Starc doesn't look too pleased which suggests it has carried. Replays suggest the same. Oh, hang on! What's happened there? Finch is jogging off, seems to have hurt his fingers in the process. Pacy full ball tempting Perera to drive, genuine edge and sneaks through Finchy at first slip. Went low and quick, but reckon he was a tad low to react. Should have taken nonetheless

27.3

Starc to K Perera, no run, dug in short, well outside off, Perera twists his knees and stays unmoved

27.2

Starc to K Perera, no run, a little too straight, softly driven back to Starc

27.1

Starc to K Perera, no run, probing away from a length, round the wicket, Perera plonks his bat away from the harm's way

Mitchell Starc [5.0-0-25-1] is back into the attack

Whew! Time for Starc again...

26.6

Head to Dasun Shanaka, no run, quicker one, keeps low, Shanaka stays deep inside the crease and smothers into the leg-side

Dasun Shanaka, right handed bat, comes to the crease

26.5

Head to Tharanga, out Caught by Zampa!! Picks out backward point again and this time he's gone! End of a scratchy knock from the senior pro. Lovely flight from Head, luring Tharanga into a cut by slowing it up outside off. Tharanga rocked back and couldn't quite get hold of the shot, slices off the outer half and into the safe palms of Zampa. Tharanga c Zampa b Head 15(25)

Head to Tharanga, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

26.4

Head to Tharanga, no run, smidge short and not enough room to cut, Tharanga's cut picks out backward point

26.3

Head to K Perera, 1 run, dips low, Perera plays it on the full to pierce mid-off and cover

26.2

Head to K Perera, no run, flatter and sliding in, pushed into the off-side

26.1

Head to Tharanga, 1 run, eased through towards long-off

25.6

Hastings to K Perera, no run, attacking the stumps from round the wicket, solid in defence is Kusal Perera. Good, tight over from John Hastings

25.5

Hastings to K Perera, no run, mistimes the drive, off the cue end and towards mid-on

25.4

Hastings to Tharanga, 1 run, width on offer, Tharanga slashes and slashes hard, ends up getting it to square, third man in business

25.3

Hastings to K Perera, 1 run, looks to poke one into the off-side, plays down the wrong line and manages an inside edge that skips past the leg-stump

25.2

Hastings to Tharanga, 1 run, rides the bounce on this back of a length delivery to pat it to point, easy single

25.1

Hastings to Tharanga, no run, short ball, angled in from round the wicket. Tharanga sways away from the line of the delivery and lets it go

24.6

Head to K Perera, 2 runs, Perera gets off the mark but not how he would have wanted. The ball dipped and turned away to take his outside edge, rolled through the gully region for a couple

24.5

Head to K Perera, no run, uses his feet again, gets too close to the pitch of the ball and has to jam it back to the bowler

24.4

Head to K Perera, no run, tossed up delivery on off, Perera taps it back to the bowler

24.3

Head to K Perera, no run, pushed through quicker on the stumps, Perera pushes it back to the bowler

24.2

Head to Tharanga, 1 run, serves a full toss, Tharanga drills it down the ground for a single

24.1

Head to Tharanga, no run, floats it on the stumps, Tharanga drives it to cover

Travis Head, comes into the attack

23.6

Hastings to K Perera, no run, fullish ball on off, Perera drives off the inner part of the bat to mid-wicket

Kusal Perera, left handed bat, comes to the crease

23.5

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, out Caught by Wade!! There you go. He was plugging away in that region around off. Had been so consistent there. It was a bit shortish. Also he bowled it from wide of the crease and got Mendis to believe that this will come in. It did not and Mendis's poke could only produce an edge that settled into the mitts of the keeper. The umpires check for a no-ball but Hastings is fine there. Kusal Mendis c Wade b Hastings 33(36) [4s-5 6s-1]

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

23.4

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, similar delivery, Mendis cannot peforate the cover region with his back foot punch

23.3

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, short of a good length delivery around off, Kusal Mendis taps from his crease to cover

23.2

Hastings to Tharanga, 1 run, bit of width on offer, Tharanga drives on the up to sweeper cover for a single

23.1

Hastings to Tharanga, no run, unerring lines from Hastings, who once again hits the length near the off-pole from round the wicket. Tharanga defends it back to the bowler

22.6

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, takes off the bottom hand of the bat as he drives this length delivery to mid-off

22.5

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, hurries this one into Mendis, who did well in the end to get hi bat down in time and keep this length ball away towards the off-side

22.4

Boland to Tharanga, 1 run, short and just a bit wide. Tharanga cuts it well but cannot get it past Bailey, he gets a hand to it and keeps it down to one. He has saved a few in the field today

22.3

Boland to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, too straight and Mendis gets inside the line and clips to fine leg for a single

22.2

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, this is a peach from Boland. Beats Mendis's defence as he comes on the front foot to bunt it away. Was so close to kissing the edge of Mendis's blade there

22.1

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, fuller delivery, Mendis defends it back into the pitch

Sri Lanka got derailed for a while after those three wickets but these two have showed the confidence that they can anchor the ship. Here's Boland again

21.6

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, shortens the length a bit, Mendis hops and tucks through mid-wicket for a single

21.5

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, change of pace and Mendis has picked up that well. Lofts the drive over cover, do not bother chasing those, mate

21.4

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, hops across in his crease to this shortish ball and tucks it to mid-wicket

21.3

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, takes a few baby steps down the track, the length is pretty short and is forced to defend towards short cover

21.2

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, opens the blade a bit as he defends it to the right of backward point, wanted a single but it was not there

21.1

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, angling in from wide of the crease, Mendis pushes it to mid-off

20.6

Boland to Tharanga, no run, mistimed push to mid-off on this fuller delivery

20.5

Boland to Tharanga, no run, Boland is meandering away around off. Tharanga defends off the front foot

Wide slip in place

20.4

Boland to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, softly done. Waits and dabs the length ball away from point and hares to the other end

20.3

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, waits for this goodish length ball and tucks it towards square leg

20.2

Boland to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, Boland opens Mendis a bit and induces an outside edge as he wants to poke it towards cover. Was unlucky that the ball went past the keeper and into the third man fence

Zampa has been taken off. Maybe Warner wants the pitch to break a bit more before he unleashes him

20.1

Boland to Kusal Mendis, no run, dabbed straight to the fielder at backward point

Scott Boland [3.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack

19.6

Hastings to Tharanga, no run, cramping Tharanga for room as he wants to steer it away. He did well to bend back to accomodate the incomin angle and keep it away towards the gully region

19.5

Hastings to Tharanga, no run, better from Hastings. Keeps it tight on off. Tharanga cannot do much but defend in front of cover

19.4

Hastings to Tharanga, 2 runs, angled into Tharanga from round the wicket, he gets across and tucks it to the right of the man at fine leg, had time to come back for a couple

19.3

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, short of a good length on off, Mendis pats it to past cover for a single

19.2

Hastings to Kusal Mendis, no run, opens the face of the bat on the defence but cannot get it past backward point

19.1

Hastings to Tharanga, 1 run, Hastings comes round the wicket and keeps it outside off, Tharanga wanted to cut it but the ball was not that quick to him, waited and helped to third man for a single

John Hastings [3.0-1-17-0] is back into the attack

18.6

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, no run, tossed up delivery, dead batted into the pitch

18.5

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, he has swept this one and so early did he execute the shot that it went to deep mid-wicket. Was a bit of risk involved there as he fetched it from off and had he missed it, he would have been plumb

18.4

Zampa to Tharanga, 1 run, eases this one down to long-on to bring up the 100 for the hosts. This is Lanka's quickest hundred in the series

18.3

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, Zampa overcorrect and pitches it halfway down the track, Mendis pulls but cannot beat the man at deep mid-wicket

18.2

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, SIX, high full toss and gets the treatment it deserved. Mendis's eyes lit up as soon as he saw this and flogged over deep mid-wicket for a maximum

18.1

Zampa to Tharanga, 1 run, full toss, Tharanga drills it to long-on for a single

17.6

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, gets across in his crease and bunts this length delivery back to the bowler

17.5

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, fuller delivery, Mendis is not afraid to use his front foot and drive, cannot beat mid-off though

17.4

Starc to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, ramp shot and for a moment Kusal Mendis's heart would have been in his mouth. Is lucky that gets it away from Faulkner at third man and fetches a four

17.3

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, short of a good length and a bit wider than what is needed to make Mendis fall for the bait, Kusal Mendis lets it pass

17.2

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, this is great effort ball from Starc. He has certainly looked better in his second spell. Gets this one to go across Kusal Mendis and beats his defensive bat

17.1

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, slanted across the right-hander, left alone

16.6

Zampa to Tharanga, no run, tossed up delivery, blocked back to the bowler

16.5

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, Mendis has done something amazing there, he was on the front foot, trying to drill it down the ground. Saw that the ball was more towards his leg-stump, changed his mind and swept to deep backward square leg. Cheeky from the Lankan

16.4

Zampa to Tharanga, 1 run, tossed up delivery that turns in a bit, wrists the drive to long-on for a single

16.3

Zampa to Tharanga, 2 runs, full toss and Tharanga milks a couple driving to the left of the man at sweeper cover

16.2

Zampa to Tharanga, no run, straighter one from Zampa, Tharanga softly keeps it away to the on-side

16.1

Zampa to Tharanga, no run, yorker length. Tharanga jammed it back to the bowler

15.6

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, fuller ball. Kusal Mendis jams it back to the bowler

15.5

Starc to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, really? He does not want to back away. No bogging down for this man. Gets a half-volley and creams the drive past deep point, great shot that one

15.4

Starc to Kusal Mendis, no run, angling away from Kusal Mendis, he has seen enough damage standing at the other end. Lets it go

Replays show that Chandimal did not get an outside edge, it came off his gloves. My eyes, I tell you

15.3

Starc to Tharanga, 1 run, pounds this one on a back of a length, Tharanga tucks it around the corner for a single

Upul Tharanga, left handed bat, comes to the crease

15.2

Starc to Chandimal, out Caught by Wade!! It's not for nothing that they call Australia a team of comebacks. They got one, saw the window and now they have three. Warner must be credited for this bowling change. Got his best bowler for the new man and he does not disappoint. Shortish ball from Starc, leaving the batsman Chandimal. He wanted to steer it to third man, too early to play that shot against someone like Starc, who generates a lot of pace. Got a thick edge to Wade, who does not do anything silly. Sri Lanka have frittered away the advantage they had after that dream start. Chandimal c Wade b Starc 1(3)

Starc to Chandimal, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

15.1

Starc to Chandimal, no run, short and wide. Chandimal gets on top of the bounce and cuts it, was unlucky that he could not get it past the man at point

Mitchell Starc [3.0-0-16-0] is back into the attack

14.6

Zampa to Chandimal, 1 run, flatter ball. Chandimal goes back and works to fine leg to get off the mark

Dinesh Chandimal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

14.5

Zampa to Gunathilaka, out Bowled!! What has Gunathilaka done here. This is poor cricket. Sri Lanka had just lost a wicket and being the senior man there, Gunathilaka needed to be a little careful and sensible. He does not and has to pay the price. Zampa stucks to stump to stump line and is rewarded. Gunathilaka got too far across trying to lap it fine, missed the ball and left the space for the ball to ping back the stumps, around his legs. Gunathilaka b Zampa 39(40) [4s-2 6s-1]

Zampa to Gunathilaka, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!

14.4

Zampa to Gunathilaka, 2 runs, short ball and Gunathilaka goes back to pull it, did not time it all that well. Still got it in the gap wide of long-on. Before Finch could parry the ball back into play, he had enough time to come back for the second

14.3

Zampa to Gunathilaka, no run, floater on the stumps, Gunathilaka dead bats it into the pitch

14.2

Zampa to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, short ball and Kusal Mendis goes back, pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single

14.1

Zampa to Gunathilaka, 1 run, Zampa was interested in a bit of appeal but the umpire is not interested, got it off the inner part of the bat, the ball rolls down to fine leg

The DJ at the ground is a global citizen for sure. Just a while ago, he was playing some Hindi song from Bollywood. And now backs up with another interesting tune

13.6

Faulkner to Kusal Mendis, no run, full ball on the stumps, Kusal Mendis drives to mid-on and wants to get off the mark. Gunathilaka sent back and just in the nick of time, once again a good throw would have spiced things up a bit at the striker's end

Kusal Mendis, right handed bat, comes to the crease

13.5

Faulkner to de Silva, out Caught by Starc!! Softer than a snowflake, I would say. He executed this shot just a while ago but this time he did not have that pace. It was a slower ball from Faulkner and de Silva wanted to loft off the front foot. More of a drive than swing, could not generate enough power and gives a dolly to mid-on. Sri Lanka's best opening partnership of the series comes to an end. But nonetheless, he has given them the start, they needed. de Silva c Starc b Faulkner 34(47) [4s-4]'

Faulkner to de Silva, THAT'S OUT!! Caught!!

13.4

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, hurls it on a back of a length, de Silva taps to backward point

13.3

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, 1 run, back of the hand from Faulkner. Gunathilaka waits, as if he knew what was coming, steers to third man for a single

13.2

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, no run, slower from Faulkner again. Gunathilaka taps to backward point

13.1

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, no run, this one keeps low outside off from a length. Gunathilaka wanted to cut off the back foot, beaten

12.6

Zampa to Gunathilaka, 1 run, smart from Gunathilaka, sinks down low and laps it past backward square leg. The ball did not have much pace behind it and they will have to be content with a single

12.5

Zampa to de Silva, 1 run, floats this one on the stumps, de Silva eases it down to long-on for a single

12.4

Zampa to Gunathilaka, 1 run, leg spin, turning from middle and leg. Gunathilaka works through square leg for a single

12.3

Zampa to de Silva, 1 run, tossed up delivery around off, Silva drives it to long-off for a single

12.2

Zampa to de Silva, no run, flatter delivery on off, Silva pushes it back to the bowler

12.1

Zampa to Gunathilaka, 1 run, goes back in the crease and turns it to mid-wicket for a single

Adam Zampa, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack

11.6

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, eventful delivery. Silva wanted to clip it through the on-side, got too early on it as the ball was a slower one. Was lucky that chipped it just wide of Faulkner, seeing that the ball was away from mid-off, he called for a single as well. Gunathilaka was not interested and sent him back. Had the throw been a little quicker at the striker's end, Silva would have been struggling

11.5

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, similar delivery, tad short though. de Silva punches to short cover

11.4

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, this is better from Faulkner, angling away from the right hander from a length. Silva wanted to poke for a single, beaten

11.3

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, 1 run, these slower deliveries have no takers out there. Gunathilaka waits and helps it to third man to get to the other end

11.2

Faulkner to de Silva, 1 run, short delivery, de Silva goes back and tucks to mid-wicket for a single

11.1

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, 1 run, Gunathilaka pushes this length delivery to mid-off and takes on his arm. A direct hit would have been interesting. But who cares about 'would have been'

Sri Lanka are going at almost 6-runs per over and Australia have no clue how to halt this charge. Time for spin? No. Faulkner to continue

10.6

Boland to de Silva, no run, de Silva's bat turns in his hand as he tries to go hard through cover, the ball rolls down to mid-wicket

10.5

Boland to Gunathilaka, 1 run, pats this short of a good length delivery to cover and adds a single to his total

10.4

Boland to Gunathilaka, no run, almost. Almost. Gunathilaka wanted to steer this length delivery to backward point, chopped it back and the ball bounced over his stumps, so lucky. But does not he deserve to be?

10.3

Boland to Gunathilaka, FOUR, poor delivery and Gunathilaka does not miss out, unlike his partner. Just glances it fine and that's all that was needed, the ball races to the fine leg fence

10.2

Boland to de Silva, 1 run, driven through cover, there is a man in the deep and it will only be a single

10.1

Boland to de Silva, no run, defends this back of a length delivery back to the bowler

9.6

Faulkner to de Silva, 1 run, tries to force this length delivery too hard through covers and makes a meal of the timing, off the inside edge to mid-wicket for a single

9.6

Faulkner to de Silva, wide, hurled down the leg-side. Silva wanted to help it to the fine leg fence. Misses and it is called a wide. Would feel that he missed out on some runs as the man at fine leg was in the ring

9.5

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, pushed off the inner part of the bat to cover

9.4

Faulkner to de Silva, 2 runs, de Silva hangs back and closes his wrists as the ball makes contact with the bat. Strong bottom hand as well, a couple through mid-wicket

9.3

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, 3 runs, only if the outfield was a touch quicker, Sri Lanka would have had 15 more runs by now. Gunathilaka drives this fuller length delivery through cover and it dies as it approaches the fence, hunted by Starc

9.2

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, no run, goodish length on 4th/5th stump, Gunathilaka pushes off the front foot to mid-off

9.1

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, 2 runs, punched through cover to sweeper cover and that's the fifty partnership

Do not read much into this pitch 'playing well'. Those cracks are threatening and it will slow down for sure as the game progresses

8.6

Boland to de Silva, 2 runs, this pitch is playing far better than what I thought it would. de Silva once again drives on the up, beats bowler's stretched arm and earns Silva a couple

8.5

Boland to de Silva, 2 runs, this time he does find the gap through cover. It was a punch once again and evaded the dive from the man at cover for a couple

8.4

Boland to de Silva, no run, Boland is not going to give him anything full. Pitched it short and keeps it in the channel, Silva punches off the back foot, but cannot beat the man at cover

8.3

Boland to Gunathilaka, 1 run, Gunathilaka is happy in his crease as he works this to mid-wicket for an easy one

8.2

Boland to Gunathilaka, no run, Finch flies to his right at gully and saves a single. Gunathilaka had steered this one off the back foot. Singles matter

8.1

Boland to de Silva, 1 run, back to the Australian way, short ball aiming for de Silva's rib cage. He tucks it in front of square and hares to the other end

7.6

Faulkner to Gunathilaka, no run, this is what Australia need more from Faulkner, hits the length outside off and beats the bat of Gunathilaka as he wants to push it into the off-side

7.5

Faulkner to de Silva, 1 run, worked off the pads through square leg for a single

7.4

Faulkner to de Silva, FOUR, wow! Shot of the day from de Silva. Back of a length delivery and de Silva trusted the bounce on this one, with his weight on the front foot, lifted it over mid-off. Remember, how Sachin used to do this? Not that pristine but effective nonetheless

7.3

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, Faulkner hits the length on off, Silva pats it to the man at mid-off

7.2

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, tapped to cover from his crease. Australia have switched to Faulkner pretty early, goes onto say how desperate they are to get rid of this partnership

7.1

Faulkner to de Silva, no run, length ball on the stumps. Silva defends it into the pitch

James Faulkner, comes into the attack

This has been the kind of start Sri Lankan would have wanted from their openers. Chandimal asserted how important a good start was if they are to get 250-plus here. So far, so good from the Lankan pair

6.6

Boland to de Silva, 1 run, length delivery but too straight, something which de Silva won't mind. Clipped through square leg for a single

6.5

Boland to de Silva, no run, hits the deck and gets it bounce a bit around off. Silva is not bothered by it at all, defends from his crease to backward point

6.4

Boland to Gunathilaka, 1 run, room on offer, Gunathilaka waits and cuts to the left of third man for a single

6.3

Boland to Gunathilaka, no run, inside edge off the bat as the ball curls in just a little bit around off, Gunathilaka was forward to block it. The ball rolls on the pitch

6.2

Boland to Gunathilaka, no run, beaten outside off trying to cut this shortish delivery outside off

6.1

Boland to Gunathilaka, 2 runs, waits for this back of a length delivery and steers to the right of third man for a couple

Scott Boland, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

5.6

Hastings to Gunathilaka, 1 run, cut away through extra cover for a single to retain the strike for the next over

5.5

Hastings to Gunathilaka, FOUR, what a shot this is! You need some heart to play that. Width was there but had some extra bounce and Gunathilaka's legs were in the air when he executed the cut over backward point, one bounce over the ropes

5.4

Hastings to de Silva, 1 run, shortens the length a bit, Silva tucks off the back foot through mid-wicket

5.3

Hastings to de Silva, no run, seam movement outside off, leaving the bat of Silva, who poked at it. This was the first time in the match Hastings bowled to Silva and it was evident how comfortable he is against the right-handers

5.2

Hastings to Gunathilaka, 3 runs, he has timed this punch really well. It hit the practice pitch on square and bounced past the man at point, rolled along the carpet before the fielder chased and hunted it down

5.1

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, back of a length delivery around 4th stump, Gunathilaka waits and taps to backward point

4.6

Starc to de Silva, 2 runs, pretty full on the pads of de Silva, who just about manages to chip it over the man at mid-wicket. It was not timed all that well and de Silva will have to be content with a couple

4.5

Starc to Gunathilaka, 1 run, short of good length delivery in the corridor, Gunathilaka pushes off the outer part of the bat to third man for a single

4.4

Starc to de Silva, leg byes, 1 run, muted appeal from Starc this time, the umpire is not interested. de Silva missed the clip but once again, Starc had pitched it well outside leg

4.3

Starc to de Silva, no run, another full delivery on off, Silva mistimes the drive to cover this time

4.2

Starc to de Silva, FOUR, poor delivery, poorer fielding effort from Zampa at mid-wicket. Silva clipped this one and Zampa let it go pass him, might have got some awkward bounce. However, Starc won't accept that accuse

4.1

Starc to de Silva, FOUR, fabulous shot. Width on offer outside off, Silva does not get a big stride forward, just lofts the drive over the cover region. One bounce and over the ropes

3.6

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, short delivery around off, Gunathilaka waits and dabs towards the point region

3.5

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, taps this back of a length delivery off the back foot to the gully region

3.4

Hastings to Gunathilaka, SIX, just what Sri Lanka needed. Innocuous fuller delivery on off, Gunathilaka lofts it over the bowler's head and it goes all the way. First six off the innings

3.3

Hastings to de Silva, 1 run, hits the deck this time and gets it to rise high near the rib-cage area of Silva, who tucks it around the corner for a single

3.2

Hastings to de Silva, no run, Hastings is sticking to slower deliveries and mixing them well. Knows that he does not have Starc's pace and needs to be smart here. This one was full on middle and off, de Silva defended it back to him

3.1

Hastings to Gunathilaka, 1 run, pounds it on a length outside off, Gunathilaka opens the face of the bat and sends it down to third man for a single

Slow start from Sri Lanka, primarily because of some tight lines from the Aussie pace dup

2.6

Starc to de Silva, no run, defends this short of a good length delivery from his crease

2.5

Starc to de Silva, no run, width on offer outside off, de Silva flays the drive off the front foot, timed it really well. But that region around cover is a fortress, almost impregnable

2.4

Starc to de Silva, no run, leaving the right-hander from a length, Silva is beaten on the steer

2.3

Starc to de Silva, no run, big appeal for an lbw, denied. Silva missed the clip off the back foot and was hit near the knee roll. The ball clearly pitched outside the leg stump, so the umpire is as right as any one can be

2.3

Starc to de Silva, wide, too wide of off, angle takes it further away and the umpire stretches his arms

2.2

Starc to de Silva, no run, angling away from the right hander from a length. de Silva covers his sticks and does not flirt with it

2.1

Starc to de Silva, no run, fuller length delivery just outside off, de Silva jams off the inner part of the bat to mid-off

1.6

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, short delivery. Gunathilaka taps under his nose and wants to steal a single. de Silva was not interested in it. Maiden over

1.5

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, short of a good length delivery around off, Gunathilaka gets a bit tall and dabs to backward point

1.4

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, goes full this time, keeps it on off. Gunathilaka pushes it off the front foot towards mid-off

Just one slip for Hastings

1.3

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, gentle length delivery outside off, Gunathilaka waits and pushes off the back foot to point

1.2

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, slower ball, interesting! Gunathilaka stays back and pats it softly to cover-point

1.1

Hastings to Gunathilaka, no run, back of a length delivery, Gunathilaka pokes it towards the point region from his crease

John Hastings, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

Man of the Match from the previous game now

0.6

Starc to de Silva, FOUR, de Silva is away with a cracking drive. Half-volley served around off-pole, he gets his front pad in the line of the delivery and flays the drive through cover. No stopping that one

0.5

Starc to de Silva, no run, there you go. Full ball on off, threatening to come in, Silva jams it back to the bowler

Inswing coming in?

0.4

Starc to de Silva, no run, short of a good length angling away from the right hander, some extra bounce on this occasion from Starc. Silva lifts his bat and lets it go

0.3

Starc to de Silva, no run, Silva goes for the drive this time to a similar delivery, no timing at all as the ball rolls to cover

0.2

Starc to de Silva, no run, shortens the length a bit and hits the same area. Silva is not interested once again

0.1

Starc to de Silva, no run, fuller ball veering away from the right-hander, who lets it go to the keeper

de Silva and Gunathilaka are at the crease. de Silva is on strike. Starc will open the attack

Two slips! Starc to load.

Australia are unchanged. How serious are they to stamp their authority with a 4-1 win? I say, pretty serious!

Warner: "Definitely, we would have batted as well. Looks like a dry wicket. Our bowlers have done very well in the tournament and batters have scratched their way to a good total. Hopefully, our bowlers will restrict them to a low total."

Chandimal: "We will have a bat first. Pitch looks like pretty dry, 250-plus might be a good total. We need to get a good start first. We have made four changes. Unfortunately, skipper got ruled out."

Pitch report: "There has been a bit of rain around. It has been a great wicket. There are a lot of cracks here, there is no grass. It's going to be another great game," says Damien Martyn.

13:45 Local Time, 08:15 GMT, 13:45 IST: So what exactly changed? I remember one quirky reply from MS Dhoni to a journalist, "You wont see a Sreesanth bat like Don Bradman just because he wants to bat like one." Exactly! After the 3-0 drubbing, Australia came to realize that their bowlers just could not do what the host spinners were doing... They did what forms the basic of the coaching manual - stick to your strengths and keep things simple. So they rode on the back of Starc, Hastings fired on occasion, Faulkner chipped in slower ones, and their batters played like how most overseas batsmen do in the subcontinent - sweep when in doubt against the spinners. Simplicity worked fine and the 50-over series served as an atonement to the Test debacle.

13:30 Local Time, 08:00 GMT, 13:30 IST: Sadarayen piligannawa! This is welcome in Sinhala and I am sure after more than a month's stay in Sri Lanka even Australians would be familiar with it... We have assembled for the 5th ODI and the series is already done and dusted. During the course of the last 4 matches, Dilshan retired from the ODIs, Steven Smith went back home to rest ahead of the long summer and captain Mathews tore his calf muscle - in the last match - to be ruled out of the series. Eventful series, I tell you. But the Australia that we know today are not the same unit that we saw on 17th of the last month. They were rather a whitewashed clueless bunch of foreigners struggling to find their footing in conditions that were unwelcoming - unlike the natives of the island.

Preview:

For all the beauty pristine waters and beaches offer, the touring Australian outfit weren't quite having a tranquil stay in Sri Lanka. A week ago, there seemed to be no end to their woes in the island nation. If the heat wasn't killing and the humidity not sapping enough, a bullyish display by a young Sri Lankan squad in the three-match Test series had left the holders of the Test Championship Mace with critical concerns to address.

The world champions won a close encounter to begin the One-Day International (ODI) series, but were yet again found wanting against spin in the second match, which they lost by 82 runs. Steve Smith, Australia's captain and the team's best player, bizarrely leaving the tour mid-way to seek an additional week of 'rest' ahead of a packed international schedule only added to the troubles of the visitors.

Nonetheless, it took two consecutive victories at Dambulla for them to bag the ODI series, and with it add some cheer in an otherwise challenging series. Going into the dead-rubber clash of the series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 4), they will look to finish the series on a high.

Sri Lanka, with a young outfit, were expected to struggle. However, a calf tear to Angelo Mathews has only compounded their unaccounted issues. Dinesh Chandimal will lead Sri Lanka in absence of their skipper in the fifth ODI.

The hosts will go into the final match having made three changes to their side. Apart from the skipper, they have also left out experienced all-rounder Thisara Perera and left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan.

Perera, who was picked ahead of the series despite a poor run of form, returned with modest outings with both bat and ball in the four matches. He has been replaced by Dasun Shanaka. The mid-series retirement of Tillakaratne Dilshan has also left the opener's spot vacant. While Dhananjaya de Silva, who was promoted to open in the fourth ODI, struck a crisp 76, the inclusion of Upal Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella will offer the team management more options to work around with. Tharanga's experience could also come in handy to fill the spot vacated by Mathews in the middle order.

Even as Sri Lanka have depth in their batting line-up, the failure of the top order firing consistently has allowed the visitors to take advantage of the weaknesses.

While Mitchell Starc's pace and James Faulkner's canny variations continue to hold the key for Australia, Scott Boland and John Hastings have also done well in conditions that haven't aided pace bowling. With overcast conditions expected on Sunday, the new ball should swing and cause some trouble.

On the batting front, it is unlikely that Australia will change their strategy of attacking the bowlers when the ball is hard and new. David Warner and Aaron Finch are expected to go after the bowlers right from the first over, a ploy that has worked for them well in the series. What will be interesting to see is whether Sri Lanka have a new ploy to counter Australia's early aggression. If they manage to do that, the visitors will have a tough time having an upper hand in the middle overs.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka have made three changes to the squad for the final ODI. While Angelo Mathews has been ruled out, the hosts left out Thisara Perera and Lakshan Sandakan. They have recalled Niroshan Dickwella, Upal Tharanga and Dasun Shanaka

What they said

"We like to play an aggressive brand of cricket, we like to entertain the crowd. So far it's been very difficult to do that. From a Sri Lankan spectator's point of view, for them I would like to see fours and sixes and big hits, but at the moment it's not that way" - David Warner has been critical of the pitches in Sri Lanka

Did you know?

- Australia have won their last two bilateral series in Sri Lanka by margins of 3-2 (in 2004 and 2011).

-George Bailey needs 32 runs to go past Ricky Ponting's 257 runs as the most runs by an Australian batsman in an ODI series in Sri Lanka.

-Bailey's average of 62.14 is the best for an Australian batsman in the sub-continent after Greg Ritchie's 65.60 (minimum 5 innings).

- Aaron Finch needs 35 runs to reach 5000 runs in List A cricket. His 2390 runs in ODIs is the most by a player from a Test playing nation who has not played any Tests.